Ranking the 15 best USC wide receivers of all-time

12. Damian Williams (2008-2009)

In a game so complex that comparisons are prone to laziness, it’s hard not to see the parallels between R. Jay Soward, Nelson Agholor and Damian Williams. They had strikingly similar skill sets, were featured as both receivers and returners, and even donned numbers in the teens.

A certain No. 9 could argue to be in the mix stylistically, but we’ll get to him later. This aforementioned trio sits in order on the list, ranked by their completeness.

Fittingly, Damian Williams is only elite USC receiver to ever catch a pass against the Trojans. He went 4-for-61 in his first collegiate game for the Razorbacks in 2006.

But after sitting out the 2007 season to transfer, Williams was USC’s No. 1 receiver for the extent of his two years in cardinal and gold. He led the team in receiving in both seasons, blossoming into the favorite target for a pair of rookie quarterbacks: Mark Sanchez and Matt Barkley.

His ability as a reliable route-runner set the tone, leading him to a remarkable redshirt junior season in which he became just the third Trojan to ever lead the Pac-12 in receiving yards. Williams did so with an 84.2 yards per game average, despite being fed the ball by an inconsistent true freshman.

Bowl games served as his cherry on top, catching a combined 22 catches for 351 yards in a pair of postseason victories.

Throughout USC history, only Mike Williams and Keyshawn Johnson produced more yards and catches as two-year Trojans than Damian Williams. That’s enough elite company to keep him atop the triplets.